Novell Releases Mono 2.6 and MonoDevelop 2.2

The Mono framework compatible with Microsoft's C# .NET is available in version 2.6. Developers also upgraded its associated MonoDevelop environment to version 2.2.

Mono project leader Miguel De Icaza applies two keywords to the changes: cross-platform and debugger. MonoDevelop 2.2 also runs on Windows and Mac OS X. A feature matrix shows what works on Linux, Mac and Windows. The second big development is the Soft Debugger, available for UNIX and OS X and a part of Mono 2.6, that can be used from MonoDevelop and can debug ASP.NET, Moonlight and desktop programs as well as applications for iPhone/MonoTouch. The complete MonoDevelop features are described on a "What's new" webpage.

The new framework release covers the API version 3.5 better and initial support for the upcoming C# 4.0 in .NET 4.0 is available at compile time. New language features include continuations and co-routines. The full list of features and changes are in the Mono 2.6 release notes.

Mono components are under GPL, LGPL, MIT-/X licensing as well as Microsoft's Ms-PL public open source license. Free downloads of Mono 2.6 als auch MonoDevelop 2.2 source code and various packages are available.

The Open Source projects Mono and DotGNU open Microsoft’s .NET platform to Linux developers. This article investigates how well-suited these alternative implementations are for building simple GUI applications.

Mono developer and Novell employee Miquel de Icaza reported on the progress being made by Moonlight at the XML 2007 Conference in Boston. Moonlight is the Linux variant of Microsoft’s Silverlight solution.